Eyelid Surgery
Conveniently located to serve Honolulu and Hawaii
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Patient Testimonial
I had a droopy eyelid that would also close involuntarily when reading in bed. Dr. Tantisira corrected the problems with a blepharoplasty surgery.
My friends and family compliment me on the wonderful results. Thank you, Dr. T!
By Arlene Kawamura
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Overview
At TrueVision Center, we offer eyelid surgery for our patients in Honolulu who are bothered by the saggy, wrinkled, and aged appearance of their eyelids. We offer a variety of eyelid procedures and our team will take the time to understand what your aesthetic goals are so we can provide you with your ideal results.
What Causes Eyelid Sagging?
The eyes are the central feature of your face. When they look old, your whole face looks old. Sadly, the skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin of the face, so it ages the fastest. Sagging of eyebrows, stretching of the eyelid skin and wrinkling around the eyes all age the eyelids. These changes can even affect the function of the eyes. Especially in Honolulu with our high Asian population, who have small or no upper eyelid folds, upper eyelid skin can obstruct upper visual field at a fairly young age. Fixing that with eyelid surgery makes the patient both look and see better!
Evaluation for eyelid surgery starts off with a consultation with Dr. Tantisira. This is necessary to determine the precise eyelid problem and the correct surgery to repair it. The evaluation also helps decide if the surgery is cosmetic, or if there is a functional component, where the eyelid problem is affecting the vision or the health of the eyes.
Results
What to Expect
Eyelid surgery is done as a same-day procedure, meaning that the patient goes home immediately after surgery. Generally, the surgery takes only an hour or two and is done under local anesthesia. Before the surgery, patients are asked to stay off all medications that increase the risk of bruising.
Recovering from Eyelid Surgery
After surgery, you can expect to experience some swelling and bruising around the eyes. Ice packs are applied and the head is kept elevated for two to three days to minimize swelling in the surgical area. Any activity that could increase the risk of bleeding is forbidden, including exercise, bending over, and lifting heavy things. No patching is usually needed.
If everything proceeds as expected, the patient can return to normal activities about two weeks after surgery. You will be provided with post-operative instructions to help make the process as smooth as possible. Follow-up visits will be scheduled to make sure everything is fine. Make sure to contact us if you experience any issues or complications during your recovery.
Types of eyelid surgery performed:
Upper Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is the medical term for the removal of excess eyelid skin. This procedure is done for cosmetic reasons, as excess skin can make the patient look tired or old. It is also done for medical reasons when the excess skin interferes with daily activities, such as seeing to the sides for driving. (A special type of this procedure also can be performed just to reshape the eyelid, if the patient was born without a double eyelid fold and would like to create a double lid.) Usually done under local anesthesia, the surgery is quite safe and effective.
The initial incision and the resulting scar are hidden in the eyelid crease and are barely visible after 6-12 months. If there is a lot of pre-op “hooding” or excess skin on the outside corners of the eyes, there may be a short visible scar in that area if the patient wants to remove the hooding that extends beyond the eyelid crease. Dr. Tantisira reviews each patient’s goals and expectations before surgery and designs each surgery to match those priorities. The amount of skin to be excised above the crease is carefully measured to be sure that the two sides will match and that the eyes will close easily, so they can be protected by the eyelids.
Ptosis Repair
Ptosis repair is needed when the patient is unable to open the eyelids. The drooping usually is caused by the separation of the muscle from the eyelid tissues so that the eyelid no longer is raised by the muscle. Since the entire eyelid is too low, ptosis can interfere with vision or be cosmetically unacceptable. Surgery is usually done under local anesthesia.
To repair ptosis, the muscle must be sewn back onto its normal position so that it can lift the eyelid again. This surgery involves going into deeper layers of the eyelid, where the “levator muscle” lies under the skin, a more superficial muscle called the “orbicularis muscle” (which closes the eye), and fat. Alternatively, in mild cases, a different technique muscle can be done underneath the eyelids.
Lower Eyelid Surgery
Eye bags are caused by the orbital fat, which nature designed to surround and cushion the eyeballs, prolapsing forward and sagging downwards, thus causing ugly eye bags. In some patients, this is associated with hollows under the bags, which makes their appearance even worse! Although the fat deposits can be hidden with injections of filler, removing the fat with surgery (Lower Lid Blepharoplasty) is the definitive long-term treatment for eye bags.
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can be done through the skin, which leaves a tiny, barely visible scar just under the eyelashes, or through the inside of the eyelid, so that the scar does not show at all. Making an incision through the skin is indicated if there is excess skin to be removed. Alternatively, the CO2 laser is used to tighten and rejuvenate the skin without removing it.
When discussing the surgery, your surgeon will also decide together with you whether you want to have fat repositioned so that the hollows of the tear troughs are filled in with your own fat, or whether the fat can just be removed. That is also when you will decide about skin removal and/or skin tightening and rejuvenation with the CO2 laser.
Procedure
All eyelid surgeries start with a consultation with Dr. Tantisira. She will determine which condition(s) you have and review with you the procedure(s) best suited to improve your condition. Pre-operative and post-operative courses are discussed. Are you feeling like your eyelids could be improved? Start your journey to looking and seeing better today! Schedule a free consultation at our Honolulu office! Just call (808)591-9111.
The Cost of Eyelid Surgery
The cost of your eyelid surgery in Honolulu will be discussed during your initial consultation at TrueVision Center. Factors like the type of eyelid surgery being performed will go into determining the exact cost of your surgery.
Schedule a Consultation
Consultations are free, so call (808)591-9111 to schedule yours today!!
Dr. Tantisira has over 30 years’ experience with delicate surgery and Botox injections. She now features a wide assortment of cosmetic procedures in her Honolulu office. Contact Dr. Tantisira to see how she can help you achieve your desired appearance.
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